We are a play based preschool that strives toward a child-centered curriculum. Our teachers put play at the heart of our curriculum and help to support the children in this with proper time, materials, and thoughtful teaching. We plan our environment to reflect the children's interests. We understand that children are active, sensory learners who need many opportunities for exploration, social interaction, and problem solving.
We are more interested in the learning process than in planning products to display. We work with an emergent curriculum. This planning involves introducing materials and interactions that stimulate the emergence of the children's ideas and understandings. As the children's interests emerge, we plan enriching activities to add to the environment and continue the learning process.
We are more interested in the learning process than in planning products to display. We work with an emergent curriculum. This planning involves introducing materials and interactions that stimulate the emergence of the children's ideas and understandings. As the children's interests emerge, we plan enriching activities to add to the environment and continue the learning process.
Services
Alta Plaza Preschool's program addresses the individual, social, emotional and educational needs of children between the ages of 2 and 5. The open classroom format is designed around the belief that the younger children benefit from their older peers, while the older children benefit from becoming role models.
Our Yellow Duck year, ages 2 - 3 years old, is a transition year. The main focus is on social/emotional skills and language development. This is a time for our youngest to adjust to a school environment and begin to understand what it means to be a part of a community. The first part of the year is spent on bonding activities and helping the children come together as a class.
The Blue Birds are our Pre-K group, ages 4- 5. This year is all about collaboration, independence, creative problem solving, and perseverance. Through collaboration, children learn to rely on each other's strengths to complete tasks, face challenges, and solve problems. Children play an active role in building their curriculum and learning environment.
Families can choose between five or four day schedules. We offer a three-day transitional schedule for incoming Year 1, Yellow Ducks for the first four months (September to December) of the school year. Five day attendance is required for Year 3, Blue Bird Pre-k students. We cannot guarantee availability of alternative schedules, but we do our best to work with families who require a different schedule.
Raising children in San Francisco can be challenging, but it's made all the more easier with support from our Alta Plaza Preschool family & community. The Preschool community is very special as it's where both the parents and their children make great life-long friends. Birthday parties, social events, community service, camping trips.there is always something fun for the whole family.
Reviews (5)
Rachel P.
Feb 14, 2017
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If i could give this school 10 stars I would. Our daughter loves this school like a home. Being two working parents we wanted to find a community that we felt comfortable sending our child to for 9 hours a day. APP exceeded our expectations. She loves going to school and talks about her teachers and classmates all weekend. Even though we are in the middle of the city, this school feels like a small neighborhood school and we have made life long friends not just for our daughter, but for us as well.
Lonnie S.
Aug 12, 2016
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My sister's daughter loved Alta Plaza Preschool, and I've witnessed great transformations in the school's children for over 20 years. Having grown up around the corner in Pacific Heights, I am still a regular financial contributor to the school, and have great admiration for the teachers, staff, and director of this fine institution. Nurturing, progressive, diverse, and stimulating, it's a great learning environment with Alta Plaza Park as the children's uniquely advantageous outdoor playground just feet from the school's front door.
Stephen D.
Sep 24, 2015
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We wanted our son to enter a full-day pre-school when he turned 2.5. After looking at many schools, we chose APP and it was one of the best decisions we have made. From day one, our son was treated with the level of care and attention that every parent hopes for. Sharon has built a first-rate school filled with wonderful teachers and supported by a diverse and engaged set of parents. Our son matured tremendously during his tenure at APP and we have seen the same trajectory across the entire student body. We do, and will continue to, recommend APP to everyone looking for pre-school in the city.
Jason H.
Sep 27, 2013
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Rich K.
Oct 04, 2011
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Sharon, the Head of APP, does several things well and one thing particularly very well. She hires great preschool teachers. Our two boys attended APP and had great experiences. They were both well prepared for kindergarten (they are attending Cathedral School for Boys) and their classmates went on to all the top independant, parochial and public schools in the area. We as parents have made friends we will have for a lifetime and will miss the APP teachers, parents and preschoolers. Hope this helps.
